# A friendly game of Mornington Crescent **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [December 29, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179 "2020-12-29T14:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/281 "2023-05-17T13:30:00Z")
Oh, how very nice! That opens **Piccadilly Circus** up for me _again_ (or whatever it is called nowadays, which probably is [NSFW](https://schumanchu.eu/html/l/l_00072pickaninny.html)). When circumstances change why not repeat a move that did not work out the last time? Madness, you say? Remember Alice: “The March Hare will be much the most interesting, and perhaps as this is May it won’t be raving mad – at least not so mad as it was in March.” ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/282 "2023-05-18T19:24:54Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Unless I’m missing something, that’s MC in five. Well, we’re soon going to find out … **Morden** … ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/283 "2023-05-18T19:47:53Z")
Like clockwork. **Mornington Crescent** ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/284 "2023-05-18T20:09:13Z")
Maus was a force to be reckoned with that round. He worked the west side relentlessly, keeping most of us on the defense all the while. I’m not surprised he walked in through the proverbial front door at the end like that. A victory well deserved. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/285 "2023-05-18T20:37:57Z")
Elegant, I must admit. Congratulations, **Maus\_Magill** , but… nah, _that_ would be madness indeed. I’ll refill my oyster card and will keep on preparing for the _revanche_. See you all next time! ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/286 "2023-05-19T09:02:36Z")
Wow, I’m rusty - didn’t even see that coming. Much good this pile of tokens is to me now. Well played, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/287 "2023-05-29T05:31:37Z")
I’m a poor colonial, and not really up to snuff on the subtleties of the game. > **[New record set for fastest trip through entirety of NYC subway](https://gothamist.com/news/new-record-set-for-fastest-trip-through-entirety-of-nyc-subway?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=shared_facebook&fbclid=IwAR2AQpwL8FnSg4MXTR8FIiW9r65NkGg0SCHjFkHW7FYQOYgfaS-9fbU37No)** > > Kate Jones, a New Yorker now living in Switzerland, traveled through all 472 stations in 22 hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds. But here is someone who, I think, could give the experts a run for their money. I saw this article and immediately thought of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/288 "2023-05-29T06:49:53Z")
If you want your handle in the Guinness Book of Records then: London Underground [Tube Challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_Challenge) > [@](#): > > As of 2021, the record for fastest completion was held by Andi James (Finland) and Steve Wilson (UK), who completed the challenge in 15 hours, 45 minutes and 38 seconds on 21 May 2015,[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_Challenge#cite_note-alwakeel-20160106-1)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_Challenge#cite_note-guinnessworldrecords.com-2) though two more stations were added to the system in September 2021. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/289 "2025-07-28T16:16:31Z")
Well, it’s now over 2 weeks since the last game ended.. time for a new one. **Holloway Road** ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/290 "2025-07-28T16:39:34Z")
Wow, that’s a bold opener. You’ve been studying up on your Threepwood’s Gambits, haven’t you? The obvious counter would be to go west, but I’m feeling cheeky. **Stoke Newington** ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/291 "2025-07-28T16:44:38Z")
I’m new to this game, and I want to try something I read about. I hope I’m not upsetting anyone’s tea tray here… **Barking** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/292 "2025-07-28T17:05:13Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > ow, that’s a bold opener. You’ve been studying up on your Threepwood’s Gambits, haven’t you? The obvious counter would be to go west, but I’m feeling cheeky. > > **Stoke Newington** You are not fooling anyone. -“Token”- indeed!? I’m in with: Harrow-on-the-Hill ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/293 "2025-07-28T17:34:43Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > You’ve been studying up on your Threepwood’s Gambits, haven’t you? You noticed ! It appears to be working so far… **Manor House** ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/294 "2025-07-28T17:47:46Z")
I know this might be a risk, but I read a tip about using the Angle of the Viscount of Slurp, so here goes: **Mudchute** I hope someone will tell me if I’m breaking any rules, new as I am to the game… ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/295 "2025-07-28T17:55:22Z")
Did you activate Wilson’s reverse gambit on purpose or was it a newbie move? This a friendly, after all, therefore I will assume the traverse is blocked. So to **Moorgate** it goes. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/296 "2025-07-28T18:00:24Z")
Definitely a newbie move! I think I’ll watch for a bit just to make sure I get the hang of it. I really don’t like embarrassing myself… ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/297 "2025-07-28T20:49:07Z")
Hmmmmmm. Moorgate, you say… **Burnt Oak** ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/298 "2025-07-28T21:23:18Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > This a friendly, after all, therefore I will assume the traverse is blocked A friendly, you say? Then you take Moorgate? No to mention **pjd** ’s snatching of Burnt Oak. I’d hate to see you with the gloves off. That aside. We should agree on how we’re playing: Emmerson’s 1928 Rules (with the Spode addendum - natch), Lake’s Inside Rules (Glass variant), or Palmer’s Conclave Rules? Luckily all three agree that I can take the interchange at: **Marylebone** ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/299 "2025-07-28T21:56:01Z")
Let me go through the checklist: this is an international match so we must be playing by the _New Revised Standard International Rules_, currently Mercury is in retrograde motion, no one is en banque, and no player has called Sweeps yet this round…I haven’t heard of this since an exhibition match with Spode and Yoshida in Tokyo back in 1986, but I see nothing that prevents me from calling **Burnt Oak** while invoking a reverse skip. Sorry about that **pjd**. This may prove to be a shorter round than anyone expected. I can only see two available moves and neither are desirable from a positional standpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/300 "2025-07-28T22:20:09Z")
You are not hinting at **Royal Oak** , are you? Well, the desirability of a position depends on the perspective of the beholder, and this one seems quite favourable to me, I’ll take the dive. Whatever @iiandyiiii fears, it is the others who embarrass themselves. Mercury’s retrograde motion has no bearing on the Advanced Rules since the validating decision adopted unter further notice during the Conclave of Hornindalsvatnet 1983 anyway, but as a compromise I am willing to suggest we switch to the Classical Standard Geneva Rules until Wednesday, including the provisional corrigendum of amendment to rule 13(b)iii, while we deliberate the steps to ponder afterwards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=16)